Read Ecclesiastes 5:1–17
Questions from the Scripture text: How should one walk (Ecclesiastes 5:1)? When he goes where? What should one draw near to do? Instead of to give what? What do fools not know that they are doing in the public worship? What mustn’t the worshiper be with his mouth (Ecclesiastes 5:2a)? What else must he keep from being hasty (verse 2b)? Before Whom? Why—where is God, and where are you (verse 2c)? What does this mean about who should do the talking? What style of worship should result (verse 2d)? What should worship not be like (Ecclesiastes 5:3a)? And what would many words identify you as (verse 3b)? What should one make unto God in worship (Ecclesiastes 5:4a)? But then what must he not do with reference to that vow? What would it make you, to vow to God but then delay to pay it (verse 4b)? And what is His view of fools in His worship? So, what must you do (verse 4c)? Even though the vow is an act of worship, what does Ecclesiastes 5:5 say about doing it, if you don’t pay? What must you control in worship (Ecclesiastes 5:6)? Otherwise, what might your mouth do? Before whom might you make what foolish statement? How would God respond to your voice, and your worship? What type of worship is vanity (Ecclesiastes 5:7)? What must be the substance of worship instead?
How should we worship? Ecclesiastes 5:1–7 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should worship with obedient actions, humble attitude, and life-application.
Throughout the book, and especially in chapter 4, we’ve been seeing how the knowledge and experience of God is so necessary for life to have lasting purpose and goodness. It is in the worship of God, and especially the public worship, that we are renewed in our knowledge and experience of Him.
But it is not merely attendance at public worship that is necessary, but proper conduct. If we go to public worship and make it all about what we are offering, we do not treat Him as truly God or the speaking God. And those who worship thus must inevitably go astray. This passage, then, teaches us how we should worship.
Worship with obedient actions. So, we must especially worship “at the house of God.” And, we must walk prudently—literally “keep your steps”—when we worship. It is in hearing that one draws near to God. If we think we are bringing something to enrich Him in some way, then we will be fools. When we worship God in the way that He has said, we draw near to Him by the means that He has provided. But, when we worship in the way that we invent we “do evil” without even realizing it.
Worship with a humble attitude. There are many pitfalls when we come to worship with the idea that we are going to be the primary actors or givers. Again, since God is truly God, it follows that He would be the primary Actor and Giver in worship. He is not like the idols that have mouths and do not speak; therefore, we must come “to hear” (Ecclesiastes 5:1). This means that we shouldn’t be rash with our mouth (Ecclesiastes 5:2a), or hasty with our heart (verse 2b). It is a natural reflex of the flesh to be overly forward in worship, but it honors God as in heaven, and infinitely above us who are on earth (verse 2c), for our words to be few (v2d). We should desire for our worship to be reality, not dream (Ecclesiastes 5:3a), so our worship should be full of His activity, rather than ours. And, we should desire our worship to be wise, not foolish (verse 3b), so our worship should be full of His words, rather than ours.
Worship with life-application. Finally, a significant part of worship is the commitments that we make to God within it. It is expected that we will make vows to God, but it would be worse to make them and not pay them than if the vows were failed to be made at all (Ecclesiastes 5:5). So, we must be sincere in what we promise, and faithful to follow up (Ecclesiastes 5:4), rather than protesting to God’s messenger (Ecclesiastes 5:6).
Worship is not a neutral thing. If it is done wrongly, noy only does God take no pleasure in it (Ecclesiastes 5:4), but He is positively angry at it. “Angry at your voice,” Ecclesiastes 5:6 literally says. Rather than receive such worship, or even ignore such worship, He responds to it by destroying what we have produced (verse 6b). Thus, we would find ourselves in the grievous position of discovering that even our worship was vanity (Ecclesiastes 5:7a), despite its frenzy of activity or words.
Worship with obedient actions, humble attitude, and life-application can be summarized in two words: fear God. Treat God as God, and remember that you are a mere man.
Where do you attend public worship? Who has invented the actions that take place in the worship there? How does the amount of man’s words and activity in that worship compare to the amount of God’s words and activity in that worship? How does your heart’s engagement in that worship reflect humility and quietness before God? What is your habit for making vows to God in the worship? What is your habit for quick, faithful fulfillment of those vows?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for gathering us to Your house for worship. By Your Spirit, grant that we would draw near to hear. Give us to worship You according to Your commands, rather than our creativity, lest we offer evil worship without even realizing it. Make us slow to speak before You, with our mouths and even with our hearts. For, You are in heaven, and we are on earth. So, let this worship be about Your activity and Your words, rather than about our activity or our words. Stir us up to make proper vows to You from our hearts, and to keep those vows faithfully in our lives. Thus, grant unto us to worship in the fear of God, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP22C “I’ll Praise You in the Gathering” or TPH212 “Come, Thou Almighty King”
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